Photo Credit: Stuart Levine
I was so tired, we just got home a few hours ago from Malibu and although I had the luxury of sleeping in as long as my stomach would allow me, I was tired from a weekend of chasing the bus from show to show. Martha too, she texted me in the morning that she was on the fence about making our date, just me and Martha for this show. Zack was going to stay at home watch the game and rest, Tom was probably planning the same. I had contemplated how pist she would be if I told her I was too tired to make it, seeing that she was thinking the same made me determined to go. Also it’s kind of stupid to run all over the country to see the band and then skip the show in town. So over the bridge I went.
Martha and I arrived in Mill Valley around the same time, I parked like two blocks away, she parked in front of the c;ub. We went straight back to the greenroom to skim off the top of the baggies of cookies that Martha made for the band. I didn’t eat dinner so I was hoping for a little cowboy kick from her oatmeal-chocolate chip sometimes raisin cookies. We took mostly out of Lukas’ bag. I left my coat back there, I don’t know why I even brought it Sweetwater Music Hall AKA SWEATwater Music Hall, especially when it is sold out. The stage is low and and you can get very close to the stage you can feel the heat of the lights from a few bodies back.
Photo Credit: Stuart Levine
I silently worried to myself that next to the perfect day I had spent in Topanga this show would be a bit of a let down show. Expectation can be a funny thing, because what I was expecting to be a by the numbers show in an annoying place filled with over served patrons that want to talk through the entire set was instead one of the most dynamic shows. The band was tight, the sound perfect, the vibe was intense but very controlled. The setlist was perfectly crafted. Lukas was on from the first song. The crowd was a Bob Weir Crowd for the most part, a benefit for Music Heals International. They had an auction just before POTR took the stage. Lukas must have donated some signed Willie Nelson packages to the auction, bandanas, a poster maybe and a CD for like 75-80 which if you have seen the cost of those things individually at the Merch Stand at a Willie show, charity bidder got a hell of a deal that night–I think they went for like a $100. The big item was a guitar signed by Lukas Nelson when the crowd was a little slow with the large reserve they brought Bob on stage and the auctioneer stoked the crowd by telling them COME ON Bob is watching you bid…..
Photo Credit: Katrina Smith-setlist from Sweetwater Show
Here is the Setlist:
Photo Credit: Stuart Levine
HOW LONG, Lukas opened with this song as he has the last two shows on this summer tour.
TAKE ME BACK always a fan favorite, not my favorite but it works.
Photo Credit: Stuart Levine
LIVING IT UP It’s pretty hard-which is exactly what I love about it. Lukas was opening with this song and I am glad he has moved it down on the list, I feel it gets better traction a few songs into the set. This is also Z’s favorite of the new songs.
FIND YOURSELF- its a soulful and fully formed song with a hook that will stay with you I love hearing a song evolve. Tato’s percussion the perfect seasoning.
LOVE AND HAPPINESS !! OMG that was simply sublime. A funky take on Al Green’s classic–I cant wait to hear Corey’s take on it. We had been enjoying the show but this was just what we needed to set us in the music, Martha and I turned to each other both in a world of LOVE AND HAPPINESS she said, pure bliss… I just shook my head in sure agreement and it was just her and I — off to see the wizard. We needed a good show together to bond us, we definitely going to hit the road this summer.
Then Lukas went straight in to PALI GAP, it seemed a lot quieter than usual in the sweetwater, I rode the wave.
4 LETTER WORD I danced again with the girls….
and TOPPERS was amazing that night. Lukas sang it with a different tempo- I really LOVED it !! It was an absolute crazy sound. Toppers is such a classic, always fresh every set a new interpretation – I can’t get enough of this song. But I think of Toppers as Corey’s song, I almost cringe at someone else trying to play it. But John rocked this song, he is such an amazing talent. He did it his way for sure (and I liked it). Every gig I have seen him do this song on this tour it was topped by the last. Lukas was haunting on the Pink Floyd cover they throw into that song. Just when you got lost in it all Avila booms you back to the present with his lead. Anthony plays ghost drums in the background with all the power of the underwater current. The last part of the song John tipped his hat with a Led Zeppelinesque kind of noise that was unprecedented. It was noteworthy performance, the band all gave each other the nods after this song. It was a good jam.
Photo Credit: Stuart Levine
Start to GO — I danced another round with Martha and Laurie this was a an old song, from the beginning. Anthony beating the hell out of the drums on this song. Lukas must have been playing with his teeth on this song I dont know for sure my eyes were closed as usual. Not being in the very front I had my face pointed as high as I could above the crowd so I could feel the music (For which I am paying for today).
Photo Credit: Stuart Levine
Then Lukas called Bobby up and an already crowded room filled to the brim. I had to leave the front because I was too hot. I went to the bathroom and splashed some cold water and got a glass of water and headed outside for a moment to the sound of GOOD TIME CHARLIE. Bobby is like a GOD to people, these people come literally out of the walls when Bobby comes on the stage. I see their joy, their devotion to the music I gladly give up my spot up front. There was a pair of dickly frat boys that were stepping all over people to get up closer to Bob Weir so I held my place long enough that they weren’t the ones to benefit. I do hope they got up close enough for Bob to spittle on them, except they probably wanted that. Bob seemed actually pretty lucid up on stage.
Photo Credit: Stuart Levine
Photo credit: Stuart Levine
I came back in to FADE AWAY the next song. It was a great song. I made friends with the doorman he was keeping the doorway clear but let me stay there. I had a little space to dance again even though the room was packed heavy. It seemed oversold I wondered what the fire marshall would think (although he would have no where to park since Martha was parked in the red zone.) Martha held her own all night in the spot under the lights. I am pretty sure she has done some kind of wholesale deal with the devil on marble for hell since she has avoided hot flashing in large crowds under extreme lights.
LITTLE GIRL , Jason Crosby on keyboards was amazing on this song. I always think of Jim Eckenrode on this song. It was his favorite for a time.
Lukas and the band and Jason Crosby and Lebo killed it on THE BREEZE, I love it when Lukas plays JJ.
I SHALL BE RELEASED, Anthony I thought you were beautiful on this song Lukas played it with this glassy sound it was phenomenal. Musically speaking I think they were all on a high after this show. Lukas thanked the crowd and they all left the stage. The crowd began stomping their feet like they do and some even began singing their encore suggestions. Some people clapped until the band came back on stage and then Lukas brings Bobby back on stage and they sing one more song….
ALTHEA- The crowd begged for Althea and as soon as Bob came back on stage Lukas began to play the notes. I sent up a little musical prayer for my friend Linda Banks, I always think of her when he plays that song. She should have been there she would have been tickled pink. Bob stepped all over his small part in the song, Lukas had to whisper it to him, YOU MAY BE SATURDAYS CHILD…Bob was kind of quiet with the rest of the lyrics like someone cut his mic. The words didn’t really matter to anyone, everyone knows them anyway the music was all we heard the enchanting melody. It was another trip down loveliness…the sound was amazing with Lebo and Jason Crosby sitting in-the kind of thing that made you glad to be alive…the solo at the end of this song silenced the loudest bar and everyone was in community of a one of a kind performance in time.
Photo Credit: Stuart Levine
I can always hear more, but I didn’t want for a thing after that song. My heart was filled with gratitude. Martha and I went backstage again everyone was back there after the show including Bob. We ate more of Lukas’ cookies and Tato shared some of his too. Martha and I started fooling around backstage as Bob was holding court. By the time Anthony asked Martha to take a picture with John and him posing with Bob Weir we were at full tilt. I convinced Martha to angle the camera enough to get me in the background and my most famous photo bomb was born.
MJ Anthony LoGerfo and Martha backstage in the green room at Sweetwater Music Hall
Martha and Tato Melgar backstage at the Sweetwater
At the end of the night we walked to Marthas car, the whole night she had parked in the red zone and not only enjoyed the show with out a care but kicked it in the green room all night without a ticket. She was born under a lucky star and I was riding her lucky coat tails. She dropped me off at my car and took me to my freeway entrance, I always get lost in Mill Valley. We talked on the phone all the way home I beat her home by a few minutes, nothing but green lights all the way down 19th avenue. One more show on Saturday and then I will have to wait until I can scheme my next shows.
Martha and me goofing at the Sweetwater in the best photobomb of the year
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